For most of my life, it was easier to endure physical hardships, test the limits of my pain threshold, and drive my body mercilessly through all manner of training than it was to try and measurably improve my lot in life.
I “treated” my mind to various chemical joyrides and somehow stayed reasonably intelligent, but I didn’t give it the kind of attention that I gave my muscles.
No prize involved here. No ribbon. My girls always liked the results but that didn’t pay the rent.
I focused in this way because my body was the one thing over which I had total domination and control.
This made me feel safe. Comfortable.
And if you hope to have any chance to succeed, you’d better grow to hate “comfortable”
I lived a life that was packed with constant physical pain.
To me this was more comfortable than facing the fear of stretching my mind in ways that would allow me to have a life that matched my truest desires.
In fact, for a couple of decades I went exactly the opposite direction when it came to this.
I deluded myself into thinking I didn’t stand a chance at having anything nice or large or expensive as it was simply unrealistic to believe I’d ever be in a position to afford such things.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not a “things” guy. I hate working on cars and they give me no thrill. I just want them to go.
Being surrounded by electronics annoys the shit out of me and I feel no need to have the latest of any gadget that seems to consume so many other people’s thoughts.
I just want to travel the world and be in a position to help those I love most with no limitations.
I have other specific wants and there are a few toys but from what I can tell, my list seems to be shorter than that of many others’.
But it costs a lot of money to globe hop and buy the kind of food I want and do the sports I still love to do.
So, now I work that muscle between my ears and get it to provide me these things
This also has everything to do with my creative energy.
I need to keep creating new stuff:
- New written works
- New adventures
- New products
- New networks
- And new experiences
Holding still or doing routine work makes me want to vomit from the stress of avoiding all that growth.
I like and need some routine in my life. Order too.
But the way I earn my living and the way I choose to live, keeps me always on the go, always in front of new people, always researching new ideas and testing them, and doing my best to keep that edge crispy and sharp.
*2015 Update: The process stated above still exists but I don’t have to go hardly anywhere to still achieve it. Nor do I wish to. Thanks Interwebs!
The action’s all cerebral now!
(Except for writing. I occasionally wear a hole in my pen-bracing finger. Seriously.)
It used to be all about my body dealing with this mission of keeping life raw.
My body took the blows and got the cuts (literally) as I made my life interesting, freakishly bizarre, wild, and unpredictable.
Hell, even my brain took a beating if you consider all the drugs and drinking I did to fortify the magnificence of these adventures.
But trying to satisfy the itch in my head in this fashion, eventually lead to my doom.
I was forced to reckon with my mind
It got tired of waiting for me to get the message.
The story back of all this and how I met my mind and became its partner instead of its assailant is in my book.
And I’m glad we finally met, sat down and had a talk, and decided to team up.
My mind’s been my best friend ever since.
Let’s help you get to know the buddy you’ve been carrying on top of your neck all these years.
I can already guarantee you that he has much to share that will put a smile on your face.
The photographer of this post’s featured photo: Tim Marshall
